The experience that occurs from the same tasks that we operate every day can form a barrier of rejection. We all physically accept the fact base on expertise while mentally reject the brutal truth in reality. Eventually, it becomes our routine and slowly turns into one of the comforts which hardly make a change, or adapt at a later time. At the same time, we are still complaining while interacting with things (especially technology) that we do not satisfy.

We are overly relying on digital devices which they become the necessary accessories in our everyday life. As a driver that spend 3 hours on round trip between home and work, I realized the experience that I encountered with a couple of the navigation applications on my mobile device, it can create an additional layer of clear understanding of how I want to improve it as a designer.

To be honest, can you think about a time when you are not interacting with the digital device to look up information before or after you drive on the road. The accessibility of information we demand is high and expected delivery instantly. Especially when we need the traffic condition, the route to the destination or unexpected incoming call while on the road. These activities created a decent amount of interaction between drivers and the digital devices. It often becomes one of the factors that lead to the large percentage of fatal accidents within the city.

“In 2016, there are 389 cases of collision and fatal accidents that cause death and critical condition of the people in Toronto. 18 percent of those reported interacting with the phone while driving.”

Competitors AnalystThere are more than supports mobile navigation applications in the market. Each navigation app offers various functions and provides a comprehensive solution to meet the needs/expectation of users.

In this scenario, I narrowed down degrading main competitors:

Google Map, a majority use by millions of users.Pro: Provide full functions for drivers, easy input with voice command functions.Con: Does not support Carplay, not incoming call friendly.

Waze, second majority use by users.Pro: Easy to use, built-in stores locator, fun UICon: Create “opportunities/functions” for users to increase the number of interactions with their mobile device. (ex: manually input/report the location of traffic officer, unexpected pop-up & updates windows on the screen created by drivers while they are on the road, especially during rush hours)

The survey

I work with data which I have collected from different sources. It is my comfort level to make my design process right, and push the concept to go way beyond my expectation. The use of survey referencing the driving behaviors as a starting point.

Personas

With the collected data in hand, it gives me the ability to create a persona for my project.

App Main features

Forward is a mobile navigation app that can improve the driving experience, and reduce unnecessary interaction between driver and mobile device while driving. It integrates voice-command, real time traffic condition, speed limit notification, multiple routes automatic transition with time display. It also offers easy tap functions on finding parking and call for roadside assistance around your area.